Copolymer of an olefin and an unsaturated partially fluorinated functionalized monomer

Abstract

Disclosed herein are processes for polymerizing ethylene, acyclic olefins, and/or selected cyclic olefins, and optionally selected olefinic esters or carboxylic acids, and other monomers. The polymerizations are catalyzed by selected transition metal compounds, and sometimes other co-catalysts. Sine some of the polymerizations exhibit some characteristics of living polymerizations, block copolymers can be readily made. Many of the polymers produced are often novel, particularly in regard to their microstructure, which gives some of them unusual properties. Numerous novel catalysts are disclosed, as well as some novel processes for making them. The polymers made are useful as elastomers, molding resins, in adhesives, etc. Also described herein is the synthesis of linear alpha -olefins by the oligomerization of ethylene using as a catalyst system a combination a nickel compound having a selected alpha -diimine ligand and a selected Lewis or Bronsted acid, or by contacting selected alpha -diimine nickel complexes with ethylene. Also disclosed is a copolymer of an olefin and a fluorinated monomer of the formula H2C=CH(CH2)aRfR42 wherein "a" is an integer of 2 to 20, Rf is a perfluoroalkylene group optionally containing one or more ether linkages, and R42 is a functional group other than fluorine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A copolymer of an olefin of the formula R 17  CH═CHR 17  and a fluorinated olefin of the formula H 2  C═CH(CH 2 ) a  R f  R 42 , wherein: each R 17  is independently hydrogen or saturated hydrocarbyl;   a is an integer of 2 to 20; R f  is perfluoroalkylene optionally containing one or more ether groups; and   R 42  is a functional group other than fluorine.   
     
     
       2. The copolymer as recited in claim 1 wherein R 42  is ester, sulfonic acid, or sulfonyl halide. 
     
     
       3. The copolymer as recited in claim 1 wherein R f  is --(CF 2 ) b  --, wherein b is 2 to 20, or --(CF 2 ) d  OCF 2  CF 2  -- wherein d is 2 to 20. 
     
     
       4. The copolymer as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein said olefin is ethylene or wherein said olefin is R 17  CH═CH 2 , wherein R 17  is n-alkyl. 
     
     
       5. The copolymer as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluorinated olefin is about 1 to 20 mole percent of repeat units in said copolymer.